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Cabinet of Curiosities #4: The Geekmas Edition

“We Geologists are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder fossil star…”   Already the gifts by the three kings following the star in the first Christmas-night were connected to geology, as explored in this series of posts ( part 1 and part 2 ) on the EGU-Network.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


"We Geologists are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and fountain, moor and mountain


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Following yonder fossil star..."

 

Happy Geekmas to all inhabitants of planet earth (and this famous photo was also taken December 24, 1968 , image credit by NASA)

My name is David Bressan and I'm a freelance geologist working mainly in the Austroalpine crystalline rocks and the South Alpine Palaeozoic and Mesozoic cover-sediments in the Eastern Alps. I graduated with a project on Rock Glaciers dynamics and hydrology, this phase left a special interest for quaternary deposits and modern glacial environments. During my research on glaciers, studying old maps, photography and reports on the former extent of these features, I became interested in history, especially the development of geomorphologic and geological concepts by naturalists and geologists. Living in one of the key area for the history of geology, I combine field trips with the historic research done in these regions, accompanied by historic maps and depictions. I discuss broadly also general geological concepts, especially in glaciology, seismology, volcanology, palaeontology and the relationship of society and geology.

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